Self driving post



Jan. 9, 1934. J. L. HENCH SELF DRIVING POST File d Sept. 29, 1932 I IIIII El {1/2 "g i Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELFDRIVING POST poration of Illinois Application September 29, 1932 SerialNo. 635,455

,3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in posts and, more especially, toa self-driving post or combination of a socket adapted to support aremovable post, said post having driving means thereon so that theweight of the same can be utilized to hammer .the socket into theground.

By the use of my invention, it is possible to place a socket in theground in substantially any desired location without the use of anytools;

said socket after being placed remaining as a support for a postremovably mounted thereon.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully asI proceed with my specification.

In that form of device embodying the features of my invention shown inthe accompanyin drawing Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showingthe socket and post in place; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of thesocket; and Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the post showing thesame removed from the socket.

As shown in the drawing, 10 indicates a hollow cylindrical socket withits lower end pointed, as indicated by 10 11 indicates a post, the lowerend of which is adapted to be supported in the socket. The post isprovided with a driving projection adapted to be brought into drivingengagement with the upper edge of the socket by forcing the postdownwardly in the socket, whereby the weight of the post can be used tohammer the socket into the ground. Preferably, the socket and post areboth made out of metal so that the post will have sufficient weight todrive the socket into the ground, as stated. As here shown, the drivingprojection on the post comprises a collar 12 suitably fastened to thepost, for example, by weldmg.

In the practice of the invention, the socket 10 is driven into theground 13 by sliding the post upwardly and downwardly in the socket,causing the collar 12 on the down stroke to forcibly engage the upperedge of the socket 10 to hammer the latter into the ground. When thesocket is at the desired depth, the post may remain supported therein orremoved when desired by merely lifting it out.

It is obvious that the portion of the post below the collar 12 mustextend into the socket far enough to permit the upward and downwardmovement above mentioned. That is, it must extend into the socket farenough so that the post may be lifted high enough to give a good blowwithout having the post come out of the socket.

The distance that the portion below the collar extends into the socketis therefore substantially longer than necessary to merely support thepost in the socket.

The invention may be used wherever it is desirable to provide a postremovably mounted in a socket, for example, a clothes line post, fencepost, tennis net supporting post, or the like.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in theappended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all noveltyinherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the priorart.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: 1. Incombination, a tubular metallic socket having a pointed bottom andadapted to be driven into the ground, the upper edge of said socketforming a driving annulus lying in substantially a horizontal plane, anda post adapted to be supso ported in said socket, said post having ametallic driving collar firmly attached to same throughout its entirecircumference and a portion below said collar extending into said socketa distance substantially greater than necessary to support said post insaid socket, said collar adapted to be brought into driving engagementwith the driving annulus on the upper edge of the socket by forcing thepost downwardly in the socket, whereby the weight of the post can beused to hammer the socket into the ground without substantial damage toeither post or socket.

2. In combination, a tubular metallic socket having a pointed bottom andadapted to be driven into the ground, the upper edge of said socketforming a driving annulus lying in substantially a horizontal plane, anda post adapted to be supported in said socket, said post having ametallic driving member firmly attached to same and a portion below saiddriving member extending into said socket a distance substantiallygreater than necessary to support said post in said socket, said drivingmember adapted to be brought into driving engagement with the drivingannulus on the upper edge of the socket by forcing the post down- 105wardly in the socket, whereby the weight of the post can be used tohammer the socket into the ground without substantial damage to eitherpost or socket.

3. In combination, a tubular metallic socket having a pointed bottom andadapted to be driven into the ground, the upper edge of said socketforming a driving annulus lying in substantially a horizontal plane, anda post adapted to be supported in said socket, said post having ametallic driving collar firmly attached to same and a portion below saidcollar extending into said socket a distance substantially greater thannecessary to A

